Awards were given to 67 films from 13 countries and nine original scripts presented during hybrid 13th annual New Hope Film Festival.
The 2022 festival combined physical and virtual events for the second year running.
Strong filmmaker turnout, live audience Q&As and online networking opportunities created an energetic atmosphere for all attendees.
The Best Picture jury award went to “Ferryman,” a British production about an alluring but reckless young woman who runs with an underground club while her military boyfriend tries to intervene.
Best Documentary went to “Frank Bey: All My Dues Are Paid,” a biographical film about the eponymous American soul-blues artist. Co-Directors Tom Dwyer and Lisa Palattella followed Bey for two years to make the film.
The Best Director Award went to Turkish-born helmer Sevgi Hirschhauser for “Toprak,” an atmospheric family drama set in rural Turkey.
Hollywood veteran Christopher M. Allport picked up Best Narrative Feature honors for his romantic comedy “Emily or Oscar?” and a 19th century period piece by Brussels filmmaker Patricia Delso Lucas, “For I Am Dead,” took Best Short Film.
Other short film award winners included Best Alternative Film “Break Any Spell” (Anton Josef, Canada) and Best Action Thriller “Something in the Clouds.”
“Local 1196: A Steelworkers Strike” (Samuel George, U.S.) landed the Cultural Spirit Award. “Identity: The Andrew Nemr Story” (Jonathan Cipiti, U.S.) waltzed away with Best Biographical Film honors.
New Hope native Xan Rayne Poulsen won Best Animated Film for her wryly satirical Savannah College of Art and Design student project, “The Softest Blanket In All of Dingledorf.”
“Love and Communication” (James Christy, U.S.), took home the Audience Choice Best Narrative Feature and Indie Spirit awards.
“Grafton” (Bryan Santiago, U.S.) won Audience Choice Best TV Pilot. The Female Eye Filmmaking Award went to Shiyue Xu of Tianjin, China, for “YuanYuan.”
Audience Choice awards included Best Documentary “Breaking the Silence” (Dara Sanandaji, Freddie Bell, U.S.), Best Short Documentary “Mountains We Climb” (Ryan Canney, U.S.), and Best Short Film “Aghast!” (Andreas Quiroga, U.S.). Director Ryan Canney is a CB East High School graduate and a Doylestown native.
In the commingled New Hope Film Festival Script Competition, the Best Script Award went to “G.O.D. O.S.” (David Christopher Loya, U.S.). “Preacher’s Daughter: Giant Slayer” (Gregory Bonds, U.S.) won Best Narrative Feature Script.
Best Streaming/Premium TV Script winner was “Transformed” (Shannon TL Kearns, U.S.). Best Period Script “Wake of the Quasimodo” (Lorna Norrise and Lauren Rosson, U.S.) and Best Short Screenplay “A Package of Dreams” (Bradley M. Look, U.S.) rounded off the list of award winners.
The full list of winners and nominees is available on the event’s official blog at newhopefilmfest.blogspot.com. Information about the New Hope Film Festival is available at newhopefilmfestival.com.
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